thorp



(No Model.) zsneets-sheet 1.. E. G. THORP 8v H. E. GIFPORD. OAPILLARY GOPYING BATH.

I 'No. 532,404. Patented Jan. 8, 1895 22355 I v INVEETURS.

' (N0 Modei.) 2 Sheets-Shet 2 E. G. THORP 82; H. E. G-IPFORD.

GAPILLARY COPYING BATH.

No. 532,404. Patented Jan. 8, 1895.

DRE

NI-TE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ELLIOTT G. THORP, OF BOSTON, AND HARRY E. GIFFORD, OF QUINCY, MASSACHUSETTS; SAID GIFFORD ASSIGNOR TO SAID THORP.

CAPILLARY COPYl N'G-BATH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 532,404, dated January 8, 1895.

Application filed December 27, 1892. Serial No. 456,437. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, ELLIOTT G. THORP, of Boston, in the county of Sufiolk, and HARRY E. GIFFORD, of Quincy, in the county of Norillary attraction all substantially as herein after fully described reference being had to the accompanying sheets of drawings, in which- Figure 1, is a perspective view of the bath open; Fig. 2, a vertical longitudinal section on line 2-2, Fig. 1; Fig. 3, a detail section similar to Fig. 2 but enlarged. Fig. at is a detail sectional view to be hereinafter referred to.

In the drawings A represents a box or reoeptacle for the dampening sheets, water, 850., having a cover or lid B arranged to close down upon the box, and be opened and held in an upright position thereon as shown.

The cover B has on its inner side near its back edge a turned down lip or ridge a, which is adapted to rest upon the edgeb of the rear side. of the box, the outer edged of the cover the present instance two of them and above these is placed asheet or plate E of thin metal preferably having perforations therethrough.

The edges of the perforated sheet metal plate are turned down asat e sufficient to intion dividing the box or receptacle into compartments, one above the other. Bet ween the two sheets of felt are placed two sheets F, G, of cloth or other sheet material that will absorb water, which sheets extend from the front of the box to the rear side, then upward and fold over and above the perforated plate to the front of the-box, and below the two sheets of felt are placed two similar sheets H, J, of cloth which are of a length to extend back, upward and fold over the first two sheets to the front of the box. Each of these sheets has its outer edge bound with a stripf of metal and these sheets are herein called capillary or water conducting sheets. Above the perforated plate is placed a number of sheets K of cloth or similar sheet material that will absorb water, and called herein the dampening sheets, which are disposed between the capillary sheets and as shown in the drawings as follows: In the present instance there are four capillary sheets and four dampening sheets, and the upper portionsg or the portions above the plate E of the capillary sheets are first lifted up and held out of the way and a dampening sheet placed on the plate E. Then the end g of the capillary sheet J is laid on it,

and so on alternately, a dampening sheet'and a capillary sheet, the last capillary sheet covering all. These dampening sheets are to be used in the press copy book, and to facilitate the handlingdf'th'e same; each. of their ends are bound with a metal strip h. As thus placed in the box having first saturated the felt sheets with water, the cover is closed, and

in a short time from capillary attraction the water in the lower part of the box these can be dispensed with and the lower compartment filled with water, in such case using a solid plate in lieu of a perforated one, and having its rear side only open, the lower ends of the capillary sheets being placed therein, in the lower compartment as before.

The compartment below the plate E makes a reservoir for water either alone or held in suitable absorbent substances so that with the ends of the capillary or water conducting sheets placed therein, and their other ends extending up into the upper compartment where the dampening sheets are placed, moisture will be conducted or conveyed to the dampening sheets as desired.

Secured to the bottom of the box are lips m which project over the perforated plate and serve to hold it and the felt sheets and lower ends of the conducting or capillary sheets in place and from displacement.

On the inner side of the cover near its front edge is secured a longitudinal strip L which bends outwardly as shown forming a shelf or ridge on which when desirous of using a copying sheet the conducting or capillary sheet above it is first lifted and its metal strip edge f placed over and laid on the'ridge or rest which holds it up and thus out of the way, so that the dampening sheet can be freely taken out of the box and used as desired. The next capillary sheet is then placed by its metal strip edge up on the rest or ridge and the next dampening sheet can be then used and so for all sheets, and when through with them they are returned to and placed in the box as before described. The ends of the box are out down a little as at n to let air into the box when closed to ventilate the same and. to prevent the sheets from molding or becoming in- -jured.

In openings or depressions preferably in the two absorbent sheets are placed pieces M of disinfectant material which serve to keep the sheets in good condition, and before placing them in the bath it is preferable to soak them in a liquid disinfectant and then let them dry before using them.

In Fig. 4 is shown in detail vertical cross section therear end of the cover and side of the box, showing the upper edge 1" of the rear side of the box instead of being folded outward as at b in Fig. 3 folded inward, so that when the cover is closed the edge w of the lip a will extend under the folded edge 1) and serve to keep the cover in place.

The rest L can extend the width of the cover or less, can be short and one at each end or arranged in any suitable manner.

I/Vith this improved copy bath, the dampening sheets are kept in amoist condition for a long time and always ready for use in a press copy book, when desirous of copying letters, 850., which saves time and trouble. A more or less number of the dampening sheets can be used between the capillary sheets and a more or less number of the capillary sheets as desired.

Having thus described our invention, What we claim is 1. In combination, a box, felt orother water saturating sheets therein, a perforated metal plate above said sheets, one or more sheets of cloth between the saturating sheets, said cloth sheets being of a length to extend up at the back of the box and fold over the perforated plate to the front of the box.

2. In combination, a box, felt or other water saturating sheets therein, a perforated metal plate above said sheets,ou,e or more sheets of cloth between said saturated sheets, said cloth sheets being of a length to extend up at the back of the box and fold over the perforated plates to the front of the box, and one or more water saturating sheets of suitable material between said cloth sheets above the perforated plate.

3. In combination, a box, having a cover, a shelf or rib secured to the inside of the cover, water saturating sheets in the box, one or more sheets of cloth or other suitable sheet material by one end between said water saturating sheets of a length to extend up at the back of the box and fold over the saturating sheets at the front of the box, a metal binding strip on the front edge of each cloth sheet, by which it can be freely placed on the shelf or rib to hold and support it when desired.

4:- In combination, a box, water saturated sheetstherein, a perforated metal plate above said sheets having its edges turned down over the ends of said sheets, one or more sheets of cloth between the saturating sheets, said cloth sheets being of a length to, extend up back of the box and fold over the perforated 5 plate to the front of the box.

In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ELLIOTT G. THORP. HARRY E. GIFFORD. WVitnesses:

EDWIN W. BROWN,

LEONA C. ARNO. 

